Estanci
An art gallery that happens to have beds. The design is sharp and contemporary — cement, glass, murals — but the mood is loose and relaxed. Saturday asados around the fogón fire pit, horses grazing out front, gauchos leading trail rides across open pampas. Formal it absolutely is not.
The Saturday night asado at El Asador is the weekly highlight — request it when booking
Why It Matters
More than 20 Uruguayan and international artists contributed original works throughout the property, overseen by curator Enrique Badaró Nadal. The living room centerpiece is a 12-foot marble sculpture by Pablo Atchugarry, rising to meet a 300-square-meter ceiling fresco inspired by Google Earth imagery of Uruguay. The pool bottom is paved with fiber-optic lights mirroring the Southern Hemisphere constellations above. It is also genuinely eco-minded: solar and geothermal energy, a working organic garden that feeds the kitchen, composting, and recycled water.
Estancia Vik sits on 4,000 acres of rolling Uruguayan countryside, about 20 kilometers from Punta del Este and a short drive from the beach village of José Ignacio. The 50,000-square-foot Spanish colonial structure — white adobe walls, red tin roof, open courtyards — was built from scratch in 2009 by architect Marcelo Daglio for founders Carrie and Alex Vik. There are only 12 suites here, and every single one was designed by a different Uruguayan artist. It is genuinely intimate, which is either perfect or claustrophobic depending on what you want from a hotel.
Where You'll Stay
12 room types available
Amengual Suite
A 500-square-foot ground-floor suite with original work by artist Amengual. Private exterior patio access, full bathroom with separate bathtub and rainfall shower, minibar, and complimentary WiFi.
Badaro Suite
Named after curator Enrique Badaró Nadal who oversaw the entire art program at Estancia Vik. A 500-square-foot ground-floor suite with original work throughout. Private patio access, full bathroom with separate soaking tub and rain shower.
Barea Suite
500-square-foot ground-floor suite featuring original work by artist Barea. Same full amenity set as other guest suites, with private patio access and a bathroom featuring separate soaking tub and rain shower.
Cardozo Suite
A 500-square-foot ground-floor suite with original work by artist Cardozo. Offers direct access to the Estancia's exterior courtyards and gardens. Full bathroom with separate bathtub and rainfall shower.
Duarte Suite
500-square-foot ground-floor suite featuring original work by artist Duarte. Same configuration as all guest suites: private patio access, full bathroom with separate tub and rain shower, minibar, AC, and free WiFi.
Master Suite Daglio
Named after architect Marcelo Daglio who designed the Estancia itself. One of four 900-square-foot second-floor master suites, with elevated views over the pastoral landscape. Includes private outdoor shower on the patio in addition to the full indoor bathroom.
Master Suite Legrand
Named for Marcelo Legrand, the artist whose work also covers the walls and ceiling of El Asador dining room. A 900-square-foot second-floor suite with the same elevated patio views and outdoor shower configuration as other master suites.
Master Suite Seveso
A 900-square-foot second-floor suite featuring original artwork by Uruguayan artist Seveso. Same configuration as all master suites: elevated position, outdoor shower on patio, full bathroom with separate tub and rain shower, and private patio access to the Estancia grounds.
Master Suite Vik
The flagship master suite, 900 square feet on the second floor, reflecting the founders' own design vision. Features the full master suite configuration: outdoor patio shower, elevated views, original art, and private access to the Estancia exterior patios.
Musso Suite
Named after colorist Carlos Musso, who also painted the Estancia's garden chapel. A 500-square-foot ground-floor guest suite with Musso's characteristically spiritual, richly colored work throughout. Private patio access, full bathroom.
Trujillo Suite
500-square-foot ground-floor suite featuring work by artist José Trujillo — known for large-scale figurative paintings. Guests with sensitivities to the human form should note Trujillo's work features large nude paintings prominently. Same full amenity configuration as all guest suites.
Turell Suite
A 500-square-foot ground-floor guest suite with art by Turell, private patio access, full bathroom with separate bathtub and rain shower. Ground-level position means direct walk-out access to the Estancia courtyards and gardens.
The Property
Eat & Drink
4 venues on property
Restaurant
Spa & Wellness
Treatment Menu
On Property
How you'll actually spend your days.
The property's native landscape hosts rare bird species, wild South American rheas (ostriches), armadillos, and various farm animals. Experience concierges can arrange guided nature walks and private wildlife tours.
Fishing in the Arroyo de José Ignacio and Laguna de José Ignacio, which run along the property boundary.
Paddle the Arroyo de José Ignacio — a peaceful river running through the property down to Laguna José Ignacio and on to the Atlantic. Good bird-watching opportunities along the way.
Wind and kite surfing available on Laguna José Ignacio near the property. Can also be arranged at the beach, a short drive away.
Pool table, table tennis, board games, and a games console (Wii) in a dedicated game room decorated with a collage of leftover building materials. Good rainy-day option.
Several excellent 18-hole golf courses accessible within a short drive. The hotel's experience concierge can arrange tee times.
Grass tennis courts on-site.
Ride Criollo and Quarter horses across 4,000 acres of open pampas with resident gauchos. There is a trail that follows the riverbank through native forest toward the lagoon. One hour is typically included in the room rate; additional hours are charged at approximately $90 USD per hour.
Bike rentals available across the expansive estancia grounds. Trails extend toward the lagoon and surrounding countryside.
Private polo field on-site. Beginners can book lessons; experienced players can join a game. Lessons arranged through the experience concierge.
A weekly ritual at El Asador — fire lit in the central fogón, Uruguay's best grass-fed meats, Marcelo Legrand's art overhead. The social highlight of the week. Open to guests and the public.
The Estancia's signature pool is 20 meters, made of Absolute Nero granite, with a fiber-optic bottom that mirrors the Southern Hemisphere constellations at night. Unheated — some guests note this is a consideration in shoulder months.
A 5,000-bottle wine cellar beneath the dining room with glass floor panels visible from above. Tastings of the property's own VIK wine from the Millahue Valley in Chile can be arranged.
Amenities & Practical Info
The details that matter for planning.
Complimentary wireless internet access throughout the main building and in all rooms.
Full buffet breakfast included in all room rates daily.
A beautifully painted private chapel by Uruguayan colorist Carlos Musso, set in a grove of ancient native trees. Available for weddings and private events.
Minibar and all soft drinks included throughout the stay — not just at check-in.
Free self-parking on property.
Pets allowed on request; charges may apply.
Signature outdoor pool on the south side of the Estancia, set within a large grass garden. Fiber-optic lights in the pool floor mirror the Southern Hemisphere constellations at night. Pool is not heated.
On-site library available to guests.
Room service available around the clock.
A dedicated experience manager assigned to each guest or group, available to pre-plan itineraries, arrange all activities, restaurant bookings, and provide insider local access.
Large working organic herb garden within the Estancia walls. Produce feeds the kitchen directly. Vegetables, fruits, and herbs grown on-site.
Property powered in part by solar panels, wind turbines, and geothermal energy. Also composts waste and uses recycled water.
On-site helipad available for charter helicopter arrivals from the airport.
A gym decorated with murals by José Trujillo is available to guests. Note: the primary/larger gym facility is at sister property Bahia Vik and requires a short transfer.
Sauna available (primarily at sister property Playa Vik, accessible December to March).
BUILD YOUR ESTANCIA VIK JOSE IGNACIO PLAN
Rooms, dining, spa, and resort experiences — organized into one trip plan.
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